Numbness In Hands

[mark5767]

I was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago so I am pretty new to a strict gluten free diet, although I started cutting way back on gluten after it was "probable" I had an issue around 2 months ago.

Anyway, my major issue is middlish right side abdominal pain which can be severe at times. It kind of cycles up and down, the doctor thinks it's due to pretty severe sprue in the upper intestine (the villi or whatever they are called are all gone).

When the pain gets really bad it's accompanied by a lot of belching which seems to relieve the pain for the moment. And also some flatulence, but not that bad.

Recently the pain returned and I noticed it's now accompanied by feeling worse emotionally (very short temper), fatigue and also tingling/numbness in my hands. I assume this could be a nutritional deficiency but my blood tests showed pretty normal for most things tested (which was quite a few)including vitamin B12.

I am thinking of taking a B12 supplement just to see if it helps. I am also thinking I need another visit with the GI doctor, since I was feeling better for a bit but last week started to feel pretty bad again. The numbness thing is a little freaky so I just thought I would see if anyone has thoughts on that. B12 seems to be one possible explanation, are there others? Thanks!

Mark

[Melody02]

numbing in the hands/ fingers seems to be a common side effect, one which visits me frequently. The better I am with being strict on the no gluten, the less and less my (ring and pinky) fingers fall asleep.

Just be sure to read every lable on the foods you eat. If you are not sure, just google *the food name* and *gluten free*. We are so blessed to have such redily available information. I do not know how folks with Celiac Sprue ate before so much info was available on the internet!

[Cara in Boston]

Make sure your B12 is gluten free - I made that mistake and seriously thought I had been misdiagnosed because all my symptoms came suddenly back.

I have numbness in my hands and feet. I have been gluten-free for a year now and this is still an issue for me . . . much less frequently, but it still happens - unlike my other symptoms that are gone completely. I think I read somewhere that some neuropathy can be permanent. At least now I know the cause, so it no longer concerns me (like when I thought I must have a brain tumor or something) it is just annoying.

cara

[mark5767]

Thank you for your repsonses, good advice to be careful to select a gluten free vitamin, that could be a couple steps back instead of forward!

[cavernio]

I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy, which was tingling and eventually pain in my hands, feet and around my mouth, years before my celiac diagnosis. It was among one of the many symptoms that eventually led me to ask to be tested for celiac disease.